Indiana University Athletics
Middleton on Ted Hendricks Award Watch List
7/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 22, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana junior defensive end Greg Middleton is one of 36 players on the preseason Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Middleton was one of eight finalists for the award in 2007.
This is the fifth preseason watch list in which Middleton has appeared. He is also on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Rotary Lombardi Award Preliminary Watch List and the Lott Trophy Watch List. The Indianapolis native picked up All-America distinction from the Associated Press, The Sporting News, CBSSports.com, SI.com, Rivals.com and CollegeFootballNews.com one season ago.
Last year, Middleton became the first IU defensive lineman since Adewale Ogunleye in 1997 to earn first team All-Big Ten honors. He set a new single-season school record with 16 sacks, which also led the nation.
The Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award is named in honor of college football's first three-time first-team All-American. As a defensive end at the University of Miami, Ted used his agility, height and reach to block passes and kicks, force interceptions and pressure quarterbacks and running backs. He roamed the front line, read plays and blitzed on impulse, completely transforming the way the defensive end position was played.
His professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. It included four Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowl selections and inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. It is in the spirit of Ted Hendricks' aggressive style of play, winning attitude and determination that the Defensive End of the Year Award for college football's premier defensive end is presented.
On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the award's winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the award's voting committee. Candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate's primary position must be defensive end.
